Your 2026 Garden

[CatInTheHenHouse]

I am going to start tomatoes and peppers inside next month. I have been a huge fan of MI Gardener’s seeds as I’ve had great germination and they were super affordable as a beginner gardener! I will plant Vintage Wine (beefsteak), Tropical Sunset (cherry), and striped Roma. I will plant jalapeño and red bell peppers as well, though in the past I’ve never even gotten a sprout. I think I may need a heat mat for peppers.

I’ve done peppers without a heat mat but yeah they speed the process up by a LOT.

Our favorite garden grows are royal burgundy beans (bush) and crimson sweet watermelon, which I’ll direct sow. I’ll also direct sow Sugar Snap peas, Chioggia beets, Imperator carrots, Waltham butternut squash, and my sweet little wildflower patch! No sugar pie pumpkins for me this year

Do you scarify the melon and squash seeds? I tried it last year and WOW they sprouted fast (within 3ish days IIRC).

 

[Bsmac]

Saved some from the biggest, the tastiest, the least bothered, the most productive, etc. etc. etc. Does that count?

It sure does imho! We save most of our seeds and have done so for years!

 

[Sally PB]

Not my main source for seeds, but it sure is pretty!

In 2024, a lot of people were saying they had very poor germination with Baker Creek seeds.

The Zapallito squash is from Baker Creek. It tastes similar to zucchini, but is highly tolerant to SVB.

I will look for that! I do get zucchini before the SVB kill the plants, but I'd like to try something else.

I’ve done peppers without a heat mat but yeah they speed the process up by a LOT.

Oh my goodness! Yes! I had peppers that sprouted in EIGHT days! Versus 3-4 weeks in the greenhouse.

 

[Sally PB]

I am thinking of trying one or two new tomato varieties. I try to do that every year. That's how I found my "really good" tomatoes, Italian Heirloom and Hungarian Heart. I saved seeds from those, so I haven't bought new ones in a few years.

I've read that growing out your own saved seeds gives you plants that get more and more adapted to YOUR garden every year. As long as you're saving open pollinated seeds, not hybrids, of course.

 

[CatInTheHenHouse]

I am thinking of trying one or two new tomato varieties. I try to do that every year. That's how I found my "really good" tomatoes, Italian Heirloom and Hungarian Heart. I saved seeds from those, so I haven't bought new ones in a few years.

Nice! Looking at anything in particular?

 

[Debbie292d]

I am thinking of trying one or two new tomato varieties. I try to do that every year. That's how I found my "really good" tomatoes, Italian Heirloom and Hungarian Heart. I saved seeds from those, so I haven't bought new ones in a few years.

I've read that growing out your own saved seeds gives you plants that get more and more adapted to YOUR garden every year. As long as you're saving open pollinated seeds, not hybrids, of course.

I have never saved any seeds other than flowers. If these tomatoes (Rutgers and Tiny Tim) do okay, I'll save some. That's such a great idea!

 

[Bsmac]

I am thinking of trying one or two new tomato varieties. I try to do that every year. That's how I found my "really good" tomatoes, Italian Heirloom and Hungarian Heart. I saved seeds from those, so I haven't bought new ones in a few years.

I've read that growing out your own saved seeds gives you plants that get more and more adapted to YOUR garden every year. As long as you're saving open pollinated seeds, not hybrids, of course.

Seeds that have been grown in your area will perform better! They become acclimated to your area! IMHO!

 

[jxp]

In 2024, a lot of people were saying they had very poor germination with Baker Creek seeds.

^This!^ '23 was my first year ordering seeds from BC and '24 was my last. I don't have good money to throw after bad. Their customer service is very responsive and always friendly. Too bad their seeds are not

 

[Debbie292d]

^This!^ '23 was my first year ordering seeds from BC and '24 was my last. I don't have good money to throw after bad. Their customer service is very responsive and always friendly. Too bad their seeds are not

Hopefully, @fuzzi's do well!

 

[Debbie292d]

Speaking of squash, I didn't plan to grow zuccini but my sister gave us some last year and after a week in our basement they got soft, so fed them to the chickens. What a hit!

Is there a particular zuccini that stores better in the basement or maybe we just got hers too late? I'll just pick out any old zucchini seeds otherwise. I've never planted it before.